Nissan’s board has ousted Chairman Carlos Ghosn following his arrest, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported on Thursday, without citing sources.
The move comes days after the 64-year-old was arrested on suspicion of financial misconduct, ushers in a period of uncertainty for Nissan’s 19-year alliance with Renault.
A Nissan Motor Co spokesman declined to comment on the reports.
Ghosn had shaped the Franco-Japanese alliance, which was enlarged in 2016 to include Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors.
In 1999, Renault acquired over 36% of Nissan and, while retaining his job for the French brand, Ghosn then took on the role of Nissan CEO in 2000.
More recently, he had been pushing for deeper ties, including potentially a full Renault-Nissan merger.
Japanese prosecutors say Ghosn and Representative Director Greg Kelly, who has also been arrested, conspired to understate Ghosn’s compensation at Nissan over a period of five years, saying it was about half the actual 10 billion yen (€77 million).
Japanese prosecutors say Ghosn and Representative Director Greg Kelly, who has also been arrested, conspired to understate Ghosn’s compensation at Nissan over a period of five years, saying it was about half the actual 10 billion yen (€77 million).
